Which is your favorite child performance?

Posted: April 18, 2014

Mickey Rooney

Patty McCormick was only 10 years old when she received a great deal of critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination for her role as Rhoda in THE BAD SEED. Which is your favorite child performance? R13 Classic Host Neal Gabler’s main contenders are Mickey Rooney in THE HUMAN COMEDY, Roddy McDowell in HOW GREEN WAS MY VALLEY, and Haley Joel Osment in THE SIXTH SENSE.

While Mr. Gabler’s choices are worthy of such a lofty designation, I think he is giving Ms. McCormack short shrift. When I was very young I heard about her, and wondered what all the fuss was about. Now, as an adult I have finally seen “The Bad Seed”, and realize why so much was expected of her. That performance, combining evil incarnate, with at the same time exhibiting an adorableness and sweetness you would want to hug a hundred times over, had me spellbound! She was amazing, in a very strange film, that included a number of other fine performances. Patty gets my vote!

DouglasRoy

I guess the question wouldn’t consider my own Home Movies???

While watching Bad Seed for the first time, some forty years ago, I remember thinking to myself, “Where did this kid (character) come from?” The Seed-ing, left me in need of heavy doses of Shirley and Margaret.

Which all these years later, has brought me now to St. Louis or the Swiss Alps. As beautiful a child as Margaret was, Shirley was the innocent ideal of unconditional love.

In lieu my own Home Movies ’66, I pick Heidi.

DouglasRoy

While watching Bad Seed for the first time, some forty years ago, I remember thinking to myself, “Where did this kid (character) come from?” The Seed-ing, left me in need of heavy doses of Shirley and Margaret.

Which all these years later, has brought me now to St. Louis or the Swiss Alps. As beautiful a child as Margaret was, Shirley was the innocent ideal of unconditional love.

In lieu my own Home Movies ’66, I pick Heidi.

Hedy Sloane

Anna Paquin in THE PIANO; Justin Henry in KRAMER VS. KRAMER; JODIE FOSTER IN TAXI DRIVER and ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANYMORE; Victoire Thivsol in PONETTE; Hayley Mills in THE CHALK GARDEN; Elizabeth Taylor in NATIONAL VELVET; and Shirley Temple in all.

Hedy Sloane

Anna Paquin in THE PIANO; Justin Henry in KRAMER VS. KRAMER; Jodie Foster in TAXI DRIVER AND ALICE DOESN’T LIVE HERE ANY MORE; VICTOIRE THIVISOL in PONETTE; Hayley Mills in THE CHALK GARDEN; Elizabeth Taylor in NATIONAL VELVET; and any film with Shirley Temple.

laustcawz

Some of the performances that come to mind are William Dix in “The Nanny” (1965); Drew Barrymore in “Firestarter” (1984); & Alakina Mann & James Bentley in “The Others” (2001)

Alex Riddick

Mickey Rooney in”Boys Town” and “Human Comedy”

Raymond Banacki

For me, there is only one possible victor – Freddie Bartholemew in “Captains Courageous”.